The Intersection Between Pain and Opioid Addiction

Robert Kent
Apr 25
3 min read

Updated: Apr 27

Sign against blue sky reads "PAIN CLINIC" with "ADDICTION & CHRONIC PAIN" below. Bold black and red text.

April 27, 2026

Rob Kent, Esq., Author and President, Kent Strategic Advisors, LLC

Tom O'Connor, Publisher

Tiger Woods

As we watch the recent events surrounding professional golfer Tiger Woods, it has made me think about the constant struggle policy makers face in restricting access to opioids while knowing that many need such medications to manage their chronic pain.

We will find out more as additional information becomes available; however, we already know that Mr. Woods had hydrocodone pills in his possession at the time of his accident. That medication is used to treat moderate to severe pain. We also know that Mr. Woods has an extensive history of injuries that have led to multiple surgeries. He also announced on his social media account that he is "stepping away for a period of time to prioritize his well-being and work toward lasting recovery."

Opioids

It cannot be argued that many Americans struggle with chronic pain. We all know that pharmaceutical companies, with government knowledge and support, pushed a false narrative that long-acting opioids, such as OxyContin, were the answer! We all ignored that these medications were highly addictive, and we are still paying for that, as 80,000 individuals still die from drug overdose in the United States.

Opioid Addiction Epidemic

When I was at NYS OASAS, and we were pushing policy changes to address an out-of-control opioid epidemic, one proposal we enacted was to limit access to prescribed opioids to an initial seven-day supply for acute pain or injury before a follow-up medical consultation was required. We exempted chronic pain management, pain treated as part of cancer care, hospice or other end-of-life care, and palliative care practices.

For your readers' knowledge, we moved this proposal, in part, because, at the time, more than 10 million opioid prescriptions were being written in New York annually. They should also know that a 30-day supply of prescribed opioids is not 30 pills, it is 240 pills.

Pills spill from an orange bottle onto a map beneath a sign reading "Opioid Crisis."

Read Robert Kent's article on Opioid Addiction here:

The NYS Bar Association Recommendations For A Better Opioid Addiction Policy

Seven-Day Law

These numbers encapsulate one of the problems in policymaking. Often, a policy response meant to address a problem takes us to the other extreme, and we overcorrect to get back to the middle. I've been guilty of this. We felt that we had to stop what we believed was an out-of-control opioid prescription problem by restricting access to opioids. Experts told us that a seven-day supply of opioids to manage the pain from an acute injury was more than sufficient. However, some of us were concerned about the impact of our seven-day law on the prescribing of opioids for chronic pain, in that, while we exempted that condition in the law, we were concerned that some prescribers would stop writing all opioid prescriptions, and there is evidence that occurred.

As we were working to address the opioid epidemic and enact the seven-day law, a situation arose in Western NY where a doctor who was treating many patients for chronic pain was arrested, and his practice was closed. We were now faced with approximately 10,000 patients who had their access to pain medications disrupted.

They started showing up in hospital emergency rooms in withdrawal and in need of pain medications. The state Department of Health enlisted local physicians to assist the doctor's patients, and the situation was stabilized. I met with those physicians to understand what was happening and how OASAS providers could help. Their report was telling. They explained that most of the patients had been with the doctor for years, and very few were seeking prescriptions to support their addiction. Most of the patients had suffered significant injuries that led to chronic pain, and they needed to try to manage incapacitating chronic pain. They also spoke to the danger of abruptly ending a patient's access to opioids when they have been taking them for years.

Arguing about whether opioids should be used to manage the chronic pain of patients means everything to those folks who are already using them, and it should mean everything to policymakers. We should all do our best not to make policy changes that alter future behavior without considering those who would be affected by current behavior. However, that is easier said than done! The government always tends to overcorrect, and that is unlikely to change!

I hope that Mr. Woods gets help that addresses both his use of pain medications and his chronic pain.

Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly, published by WILEY

Robert Kent, Esq, President, Kent Strategic Advisors, LLC, can be reached at https://www.kentstrategicadvisors.com/. He can also be reached at (518) 669-8596 and (571) 546-1680